Packaging container convertible into a toy



May 1, 1951 A. BEHRENS v PACKAGING CONTAINER CONVERTIBLE INTO A TOY 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 21, 1946 lNVENTOR Alberf Behrens ATTORNEY May1, 1951 A. 'BEHRENS 2,551,089

PACKAGING CONTAINER CONVERTIBLE INTO A TOY Filed Dec. 21, 1946 aSheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4

KIM W a 48a- 50 50a 6 F l INVENTOR 4 Albert Behrens 6 Fig.8. 6

May 1, 1951 'A. BEHRENS PACKAGING CONTAINER CONVERTEEBLE INTO A TOYFiled Dec. 21, 1946 s Sheets$heet s HIHHIIHHIHIIIILI.

illlu III Fig. n.

INVENTOR Albe rt Behrens ATTORNEY Patented May 1, 1Q51 so: PATENT OFFICEPAGKAGING GONTAINER' CONVERTIBEE INTO A TOY Alberta BehtensNew York, N.Y.

Applibationflecemberfil, 1946;.SerialNTo. 717,733

irfllaimsz. (01;. 46-11) 1 T This invention relatesto a packaging con.-tainer or' folding carton convertible into a toya One of the objects istoprovidea container on folding carton which by simplemanipulation isconvertible into atoy bed to receive a toy figure: although whenunconverted the toy figure may beplaced inside the container" or carton.

- To this end the container or carton: eonsi'sts of a pair of openbox-like members eachotwhieh has a bottom and sides or wall portions:provid ing a free edge. The one member fits over'the othenmemberincomplementary" fashion as the free edgeportion of the one slips over thefree edge portion of the other'-that is to say; one box member fitsinverted into the other upright box: member. The inner or inverted boxmen ber has avertical downward" extensionv or: leg at each corneradaptedito extend through eorrespending bottom apertures in theoppositeorhow far the inner member is: purposel'y tel'escoped into the:- othermember:- When: telescoped into one another: to the limit: the two. boxmem bersassume. a relationship in: whiizrhv they pre-= sent avv toy bedthe legs. of which: extend: through and: from the:- bottomv apertures inthe outer: member:

Various: features of the: invention relate; tothee. manner in. which;the: complementary:- box members or component members of the toy; bed?are folded intotheir operative shapes: from diecnhblanks... I Theinvention. possesses; other objects; and fear of: advantage; some: ofwhich; with the fore.- going will be set forth in the; following:desonip tionz. the; following? description: and; in, the olaimsparts;wi-llbez: identified bn specific: names ion cpnveniencea but: theware:intended: toe be; as generie in; their: application. to; similar: parts;as therantz will. permit; Inthe; accompanying drawe ings. therehasbeen.illustrated the; best. embodts ment of the invention. known: to me; butvsuch embodiment is to be regarded as: typical only at. many possible:embodiments. and. the-.- invention; isv not to: be limited thereto.

The; novel features considered. characteristic: of; my; invention. are;set forth. witlr. particularity in; the appended. claims. The; inventionitselfi. howeven. both as to. its) organization. and. method. of;operation together: with; additionali objects: and advantages;thereotihwilli best be un:.-- derstood from: the; following;descriptiomofl aispescific: embodiment. when; read connection. with theaccompanying; drawings: in. whicltzr or: members:v

Fig. 2' shows a foldable blank for making the inner or inverted boxmember;

Fig. 3* shows theblank of Fig. 1 in an intermedi'ate stage of beingfolded;

Fig. 4 is atop-view of theouter or upright box. member folded from theFig. 1 blank;

Fig. 5' is a bottom view of the outer" or upright box. member foldedfrom the- Fig. 1 blank;

Fig; 6- is a bottom view of the inverted; or illn'er box member foldedfrom the Fig. 2 blank;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the samebox' member;

Fig. -8'is an end vi'ew on the line 8-4! of Fig. 7; Fig; 9 is=across-sectional view on the line 9-9" ofF-ig; '7;

Fig. 10 is anenlarged longitudinalsectional broken-oi? view of the boxmembers in. an i'n-; termediate telescoping position;

Fig. 11 is a View similar to Fig. 10- although with the box members inan' extreme positionof? being telesooped into each other whereby theyassume the form of a toy bed-T Fig; 12 is a perspective view" of thebox' members telescopically positioned to forma container carton;-'

Fig. '13 is a perspective view of the box ment-- bers telescopicallypositioned to form a toy bed.

The blank for making the outer box member; isshown in Fig; 1- tocomprise a body'portion lll' divided by folding or score lines H, H,l3-,. I'd, into portions constituting" a pair of end walls. l5 and ['6as well as a pair of side: walls IT and:. f8; and an end-connecting tabl9. From the bottom edge portion of the side wall l'8' extends; abottomportion 21' fold'able along; a score line. 22- and provided withsubstantially L-shapedl corner indentations 2'3 wherebyeach corner ofthe bottom portion 2.! is formed. with a, tongue portion 24; the baseportion- B of:which:i's:na1"-- rowerthan the intermediate portion. PIFitonr the bottom, portion: 21 in turn extends at duplicate side wall 25fol'dableon a score line 21 and'beingsimilar and: symmetrical tothe sidewall [8.

' From the bottom edge portion of the end wall IB- extends a: bottom tab28 foldable'on score line 29 and having atapered side 30, and furtherhaving at its base' apair of indentations 3'1; and 32' similar tothoseof the bottom 2| and constii tuting tongue portions 33 and 34-. The" endwall i5 has a similar-bottom tab 35 foldabl'e' on. some line" 36 andhaving a tapered side 36 and also having a pair of indentations 31 and31 consti'tut'ingcorner tongue-portions 38- and 39. The side Walls l1and l '8' as well as'the' duplicate sid'ea wall 25 are shown to have arecess Il 1'8 25* respectively. l vTheblank: fonmaking: the: innerboxzmembenas showni'm Fig; Zmompriseaaz reotangularrbodyipona isnarrower than the width 1.02 at its end. The

primary tab 45 is thereby formed with a pair of projections 46 and 46Similarly the side or primary tab 4'! has recesses 59 whereby there isformed a tongue portion 60 foldable on score line 6|, the tongue portionhaving a width 1.0; at its base which is narrower than the width 104 atits end.

.7 The secondary tabs 48, 49 and 5|], 5| have a wide base portion 48, 49and 50 5 a respectively and a narrow tongue-like end portion 48 49 50 5|respectively, each of which has a V- shaped notch 48, 49, 50, 5|respectively.

In order to constitute the finished article as shown in Figs. 10, 11, 12and 13, the blanks of Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 representing the outer and theinner box member respectively can be folded in the manner of Figs. 3 to9 illustrating intermediate stages of folding or assembly.

The outer box member (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5) is formed from its Fig. 1blank by folding inwardly on score lines l2, l3, l4 and gluing orotherwise interconnecting the tab IS with a corresponding end portion Itof end wall Hi to establish the rectangular inter-relationship of thewalls, then folding the bottom tabs 28 and 35 inwardly on score lines 29and 36, and then folding the bottom portion 2| inwardly on score line 22and over the folded bottom tabs 28 and 35, while folding the duplicateside wall 25 on score line 21 and inserting it into the interior of thethusformed box member in such a manner that it will come intoface-to-face relationship and in substantial registry with the innerface of the side wall ll. An L-shaped bottom opening will thus be formedin each corner of the outer box member 0 thus produced.

The inner box member I (see Figs. 6, '7 and 8) is formed from its Fig. 2blank by first folding the end tabs 44 and 45 on score lines 42 and 40*,then folding the side tabs 46 and 41 on score lines 43 and 4|respectively, and then folding the secondary tabs 48, 50 and 49, 5| onscore lines 52, 54 and 53, 55 respectively, all folds being inwardly.Thus the tongue portions 48 and 50* will enclose and overlie the end tab44 and may be interlocked by means of inter-engagement of their notches48 and 50 (see Figs. 6 and 8). Similarly the tongue portions 49 and 5|will enclose and overlie the end tab 45 and may be interlocked by meansof inter-engagement of their notches 49 and 5| In this way there arealso formed vertical corner extensions or legs G upon the inner boxmember I. The legs G of the inner member have L-shaped cross-sectionsand fit into the corresponding L-shaped bottom openings L of the outermember 0 when both members are assembled by telescoping the one into theother in the manner and to the extent shown in Fig.-11

or perspectively shown in Fig. 13. Inthis relative position the two boxmembers constitute a toy bed, since the legs G are held with sufficientfriction in the openings L.

.- Fig. 13 moreover shows in dot-and-dash an initial position of theinner box member I while 4 being placed into the outer box member 0.Fig. 10 shows the'relative position of two box members O and I justprior to the entry of the legs G into the openings L.

Fig. 12 illustrates the use of the box members 0 and I when assembled torepresent a container. Fig.f12 must be inverted and the inner box membermust be telescoped further into the outer box member in order to pushthe legs G through the openings L so that the parts may assume theaspect of Fig. 13 representing the toy bed.

It' has been noted above that the width B at the base of the tongueportions 24 is smaller than the widthP of an intermediate portionthereof. This configuration or constriction at the base of these tongueportions facilitates or encourages a slight downward deflection of thesetongue portions about the base as and when the legs G are pushed orforced into and through the L-shaped openings L (see Figs. 10 to 13). Inthis way the passageway for the legs assumes a one-way characteristic inthat added friction between the tongue portions and the legs is set upand resists a withdrawal of the legs from these openings. Thisfrictional locking effect is sufficient to hold the box members inplacewith respect to each other once the conversion of the containerinto a toy bed has been effected.

I claim:

1. A container comprising an outer box member having a bottom providedwith corner apertures, a pair of side walls, and a pair of end walls, aninner box member to fit into said outer member and having cornerextensions coextensive with the respective corner edges at the free endsthereof, said extensions registering with said bottom apertures of theouter member, said container being convertible into a toy representing atoy bed when said inner box member is pushed sufficiently far into theouter box member to have said extensions pass through and extendoutwardly from the bottom of said outer member to represent downwardlyextending legs of said toy bed adapted to rest on a base in which thebottom of the inner member represents the horizontal plane of the bedspaced from a base by said legs and wall portions of the outer memberextending upwardly beyond said horizontal plane to represent theconfines of the bed.

2. A container according to claim 1, in which the corner extensions ofsaid inner member are of L-shaped cross-section, and the bottomapertures of the outer member are of substantially corresponding shape.

3. A container according to claim 1, in which the corner extensions ofsaid inner member are of L-shaped cross-section, and the bottomapertures of the outer member of substantially corresponding shape beingdefined by tongued portions constituting the corner portions of thebottom of said outer member.

4. A container according to claim 1, in which said outer member isfolded from a blank comprising a body portion having four transversefolding lines defining a pair of side walls, a pair of end walls, and aconnecting tab at one end of said body portion whereby when said bodyportion is folded said walls assume right-angle relationship with oneanother and whereby the ends of said body portion are interconnectedthrough said connecting tab, a substantially rectangular bottom portionextending from one sidewall and foldable along the bottom edge of theside wall, and a duplicate side wall portion extending from the free endof said bottom'portion foldable with respect to said bottom portion in amanner to come face to face with the inner face of one side "wall whenthe bottom assumes right angle relationship with said walls, said bottomportion having corner indentations forming said bottom apertures.

5. A container according to claim 1, in which said outer member isfolded from a blank comprising a body portion having four transversefolding lines defining said side walls and said end walls and aconnecting tab at one end of the body portion and whereby said wallswhen the body portion is folded assume right-angle relationship with oneanother and whereby the ends of said body portion are interconnectedthrough said connecting tab, a substantially rectangular bottom portionextending from one side wall and foldable along the bottom edge thereof,a duplicate side wall extending from the free end of said bottomapertures.

6. A container according to claim 1, in which said outer member isfolded from a blank comprising a body portion having four transversefolding lines defining said side walls and said end walls and aconnecting tab at one end of the body portion, and whereby said wallswhen the body portion is folded assume right-angle relationship with oneanother and whereby the ends of said body portion are interconnected.through said connecting tab, a substantially rectangular bottom portionextending from one side wall and foldable along the bottom edge thereof,a duplicate side wall extending from said bottom portion symmetricallyto said one side wall and foldable with respect to said bottom portionto come face to face with the inner face of said one side wall when thebottom portion assumes rectangular relationship with said walls, saidbottom portion having indentations forming tongue-like corner portions.

'7. A container according to claim 1, in which said outer member isfolded from a blank comprising a body portion having four. transversefolding lines defining said side walls and said end walls and aconnecting tab at one end of the body portion, whereby said walls whenthe body portion is folded assume right-angle relationship with oneanother and whereby the ends of said body portion are interconnectedthrough said connecting tab, a substantially rectangular bottom portionextending from one side wall and foldable along the bottom edge thereof,a duplicate side wall extending from said bottom portion symmetricallyto said one side wall and foldable with respect to said bottom portionto come face to face with the inner face of said one side wall when thebottom portion assumes rectangular relationship with said walls, saidbottom portion having corner indentations forming tongue like cornerportions having a base narrower than the intermediate portion of eachtongue. H

8. A container according to claim 1, in which said inner member isfolded from a blank comprising a rectangular body portion having an endtab foldable inwardly at each end of the body portion, a primary tabextending from each side of the body portion and foldable inwardly alonthat side and having a pair of symmetrically disposed slots each ofwhich extends from one side edge of the primary tab substantiallyobliquely to an end point spaced from the base of the tab which slotsand their end points define and subdivide the primary tab into a pair ofprojections and an intermediate tongue portion flanked by saidprojections, which tongue portion has a base line extending between anddefined by said end points and has a free end width substantially equalto and defined by the basic width of said primary tab and thereforewider than its base as defined by the length of said base line, whichintermediate tongue por tion is foldable inwardly about its base line, asecondary tab extending from each side and from each of said projectionsof said primary tabs and also extending beyond the adjacent end of saidbody portion, a pair of said secondary tabs being foldable inwardly on aline at right angles to the folding line of their respective primarytabs whereby said projections with said secondary tabs constitute saidlegs, each secondary tab having means for interconnecting a pair ofassociated secondary tabs over an associated end tab of said bodyportion.

9. A container according to claim 1, in which said inner member isfolded from a blank comprising a rectangular body portion having an endtab'foldable inwardly at each end of the body portion, a primary tabextending from each side of the body portion and foldable inwardly alongthat side and having a pair of symmetrically disposed slots each ofwhich extends from one side edge of the primary tab substantiallyobliquely to an end point spaced from the base of the tab which slotsand their end points define and subdividethe primary tab into a pair ofprojections and an intermediate tongue portion flanked by saidprojections, which tongue portion has a base line extending between anddefined by said end points and has a free end width substantially equalto and defined by the basic width of said primary tab and thereforewider than its base as defined by the length of said base line, whichintermediate tongue portion is foldable inwardly about its base line, asecondary tab extending from each side and from each of said projectionsof said primary tabs and also extending beyond the adjacent end of saidbody portion, said secondary tab being foldable inwardly on a line atright angles to the folding line of its respective primary tab wherebysaid projections with-said secondary tabs constitute said legs, eachsecondary tab having a tongue-like extension whereby a pairof associatedsecondary tabs are interlockable over an associated adjacent end tab.ALBERT BEI-IRENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 935,865 Seward Oct. 5, 19091,580,147 McClean Apr. 13, 1926 1,669,279 Berthold May 8, 1928

